By Robin E. Simmons
The magic of movies is that anything that can be imagined can now be rendered real on the screen. Anything at all. These three films are great examples of the state of the art of filmmaking that for all practical purposes puts dreams on the screen. And for a few bucks, we can share them and experience them together. How much is that worth? As someone said to me recently, “We live way in the future.” Amen to that.
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE
Not to be taken seriously or historically, this visceral and bloody action epic dwells in a parallel, or companion world, to 300. But if you liked the previous film, you will no doubt enjoy this gnarly 3D interpretation of the saga that moves to the open seas that has Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) trying to unify all of Greece against the gargantuan invading Persian forces under the command of god-king Xerxes (and yes, there was a real Xerxes. He’s even mentioned in the Bible!). Rodorigo Santor is back as the mortal-turned-god in full homoerotic regalia. But it is Eva Green who steals the show as ferocious Artemisai, the vengeance driven leader of the Persian navy.
Noam Murro directs in a style similar to Zack Snyder’s previous film (based on Frank Miller’s superb graphic novel). The CGI work is extensive and jaw dropping. The blood flows freely and in slow motion. There’s a beauty to the crimson drenched design that tries to convey the nobility of fighting, and dying heroically in a battle that matters. See it on the biggest screen you can find. Now playing.
STALINGRAD
The fierce battle that turned the tide of WW II unfolds on the big screen in another epic 3D historical action drama from Russia (it’s in Russian with English subtitles).
The more than six months of the actual battle is compressed to a little more than two hours running time. But even so, the whopping production values and spectacular effects sweep over the human element and the simplistic, often predictable, screenplay.
With Putin’s grab of Crimea still making the news, there’s perhaps an added facet to our emotional reaction regarding this important historical battle when Russia was an ally.
The mostly fictional story has a band of Russian soldiers attempting to hold secure a building in the otherwise devastated city of Stalingrad against an equally determined German onslaught. Meanwhile, there’s an ever-increasing and powerful connection to two Russian women living in the battered structure.
On the big IMAX screen, the scale of the battle is put in perspective with the intimate human concerns. This was Russia’s entry in the Foreign Film category for the last Academy Awards. Was it meant as propaganda? Now playing.
MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN
Did you watch the Jay Ward “Rocky & Bullwinkle” cartoons? If you did, then you are already familiar with the wise ass, know-it-all dog Mr. Peabody and his adopted, mischievous, human son Sherman.
DreamWorks Animation has rendered a remarkably looking 3D reboot to Ted Key’s creation of the decidedly oddball relationship that retains much of the appeal and tone of the original series while offering some new insights and a terrific, action-filled, convoluted plot that includes the fabled WABAC time machine. Epic in its own right, the plot really takes off when Sherman’s joyriding in the WABAC — to impress his friend Penny – rips a hole in the time-space continuum that threatens to alter the past, present and future and change the most important events in our history.
Naturally, it’s Mr. Peabody who comes to the rescue. It’s all pretty dazzling and crazy in the best cartoonish 3D way. Somehow, the unexpected theme of what it takes to be a good parent comes to the forefront before final fade out and the entire experience is genuinely satisfying to kids and parents alike. And that’s the biggest surprise of all. Now playing.
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